Spanish giants Barcelona have reportedly attempted to hijack the transfer of a Brazilian international who is said to have been in talks with Chelsea.
Reports earlier this week suggested that Leeds United winger Raphinha was closing in on a move to the Blues, with the two Premier League clubs understood to have struck an agreement over a transfer fee of £55 million (R1 billion).
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur had previously been in the race for his signature but ultimately dropped out when news broke that Leeds and Chelsea had made progress in negotiations.
There could be a new twist in the Selecao international's future, however, with The Telegraph reporting that his agent, Deco, was spotted leaving Barcelona's offices on Wednesday.
Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed several times that Raphinha had agreed personal terms with the Catalan giants a while ago, leading many to believe his preferred next destination is the Blaugrana.
Deco was reportedly visiting his former club to see whether or not Barcelona would be able to match Chelsea's offer, with the Spanish giants needing to get creative to get a deal over the line due to their financial situation.
Raphinha has made 66 appearances for Leeds since his arrival in 2020, contributing to 28 goals.
